Mirror structure for purses, hand bags, and the like



Dec. 10, 1929. T H. A. STANLEY 1,738,802

MIRROR STRUCTURE FOR PURSES, HAND BAGS, AND THE LIKE Filed May 2'. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N EY MIRROR STRUCTURE FOR PURSES, HAND BAGS, AND THE LIKE Filed May 1928 '2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

INV ENTOR mg wrdfl .s'anley,

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1 9.29

HOWARD A. STANLEY, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY MIRROR STRUCTURE FOR PUBSES, HAND BAGS, AND LIKE- Application filed May 2, 1928. 1 Serial No. 274,487.

bag body, means for mounting and carrying a mirror therewith; said purse or bag body having a closing flap to engage over the mirror, especially when the purse or bag is closed, and said closing fiap having openings therein through which the mirror surface is disclosed so as to be capable of being used even when the flapis in the closing position. The flap may be of ornamental configuration M or in designed group relation, whereby not only are the utilitarian advantages of permitted use of the mirror obtained but also an exterior ornamental decoration of the purse or bag is provided.

Another object of the invention, is to provide, in connection with the closing flap, overlays ornamentally perforated which maybe made of metal or other materials, and which when made of metal may be furnished, if desired, with a polished reflecting surface adapted to-serve, in connection with the exposed portions of the underlying mirror, as a part of the practicable mirroring surface when the flap is in closed condition, while at the same time the perforated metal piece is essentially a protection to the mirror against breakage.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a purse with the closing flap in closed condition; the latter having perforatedportions overlying a mirror mounted and carried in connection with v the purse body; Fig.2 is a face View of the purse with the closing flap opened. Fig. 3 is a face view of a purse with the closing flap in closed condition and provided with an exterior perforate overlay of metal or other tough material which is provided with perfora ions in suitable ornamental arrangement through which the underlying mirror is exposed, the underlying flap having one or more openings to disclose the mirror; Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3 but illustrating a variation in the arrangement and ornamental grouping of the perforate portions. p v

' Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the purse structure with the closing flap in open position, said view being drawn onan enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all ofthe hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

To illustrate thepresentinvention, I have shown in the drawings a purse, which is made of leather or other suitable material, and

which comprises a body member adapted to provide an interior compartment. Said body member, as shown, comprises a rear wall 5 and a front wall 6 suitably joined together at their lower or bottomfedges, and connected between their side edges by gusseted side members 7; it WllllIJG understood, however,

that the body structure may be of any kind described. Connected with thefront wall 6 is a facing member 8 suitably fastened thereto, but in such manner as to provide in the upper portion of the front wall 6 a pocket 9 open at the upper edge of said front wall 6 I and extending downwardly between said front wall 6 and said facing member 8." Said pocket 9 is adapted to removably support'a mirror element in connection with said front wall 6. The facing member 8 is provided with an opening 11 in its body so positioned as to disclose the reflecting face of the mirror element 10, when the latter is lodged in the pocket 9. 1

Connected with the rear wall 5, so as to extend upwardly therefrom, and preferably so as toform an integral part thereof, is afclosing flap 12, which, when disposed in closed position, extends over the open upper end of the purse compartment and then downwardly over the outer face of the front wall struc-f V ture of the purse body, thus closing the latter.

said closing flap 12 is provided with a suitthus overlying the exposed mirror surface is made perforate to in ,turn provide space through which "the mirror surface maybe viewed even with the flap 12 in closed position. Preferably the perforate section of the closing flap 12 is so arranged as to provide a group of perforations 15 the members of I .which are so relatedto each other as to provide an ornamental value or embellishment. It will be understood that the design arrangement or character of the group of perforations15 is subject to wide variation whereby many different ornamental effects may be provided. When the closing flap 12 is in closed position the user of the purse may still have at command a practical use of the mirror surface through the group of perforations ;15; and, furthermore, the gleam of the mirror surface through the perforations 15 adds greatly to the ornamental embellishment of [the purse, in addition to the practical useof the exposed mirror surfaces.

.found in practice that the opaque material I obtained. j

bounding or defining the members of the group of perforations'15 very little impedes the practical use of the mirror surface, so that a useful reflection of the users face may be Referring to Figs. 3 to. 5 of the drawings, I have shown, in addition to the structure alreadyabove described, the provision, in attached relation to the outerface of said closingfiap 12, of an overlay or plate 16 which is .ornamentally perforated. It will be understood ,that this overlay or plate 16 may be made of various kinds of material, such as metal, celluloid, ivory, etc., and that the same has: the advantage of stiffening the closing flap .12 at the perforate section thereof, thus assuring that it will be fiat and close to the underlying mirror surface while at the same time'affording protection against breakage of f mirror; in addition to this mechanical ad vantage the overlay -plate also aids in the development of desired ornamental effects, since it may be made in colors either corresponding to or contrasting to the color tone of the closing flap,or it may be polished, etc.

When the overlay plate 16 is made of metal, i-tsou-ter' surface may be burnished 101 polished so as to provide a. reflecting or mirrorlike surface which cooperates with the underlying m-irror surface exposed through the v l. -perforations, thus providing a total reflecting surfaceof increasedefficiency. Either ex- It has been posed or concealed metal reenforcing frames could be employed and incorporated with the perforate flap 12 in various ways to protect the mirror, instead of the overlay or exterior plate 16. i 7

While I have illustrated the principles of my instant invention as applied to a strap purse body having a carrying strap 17 attached to the exterior part of the rear wall 5 thereof, it must be understood that I do not limit myself to such application, since the structure upon which the novel features of the invention are predicated may be alsoapplied to other forms of purses, hand bags and similar articles arranged to support a mirror and having a closing flap to normally cover the exposed area of such mirror.

It will be further understood, that many alterations and variations in the combinations and arrangements of the various devices and parts, other than those already referred to, may be made which will still be comprised within the spirit of this invention. Generally speaking, I desire it to be understoodthat I do not limit myself to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as is specified in the here following claims.

I claim: 7 7

1. In a purse, hand.-bag,-0r the like having a mirror mounted thereon with-its reflecting surface exposed at an exterior side thereof, an external perforate cover flap movable to engage over the exposed mirror surface. I

2. In a purse, hand-bag, or the like having a mirror mountedthereon with its reflecting surface exposed at an exterior side thereof,

. an external perforate cover flap anovable to engage over the mirror surface, said cover flap having a group of perforations prov1d-.

.ing an ornamental arrangement disposed to register over the mirror surface when said ffiap is closed and through which parts of the mirrorsurface are exposed for use.

3. In a purse, hand-bag, or the like having a mirror mounted thereon with its reflecting surface exposed at an exterior side thereof, an external perforate cover flap movable to engage over and having anopen part to ex pose the mirror surface, and an ornamentally perforate overlay plate fixed on the outer surface of said cover flap to both reenforce said flap and guard said mirror while exposing parts of the mirror surface for use when said flap is closed:

4. In a purse, hand-bag, or the like having a mirror mounted thereon with its reflecting surface exposed at an exterior side thereof, an

external cover flap movable to engage "over 7 the mirror surface, said cover flap having a group of perforations providing an ornamental arrangement disposed to register over the mirror surface when said flap is closed and through ,WlllCh parts of the mirrorsurface are exposed for use, and a correspond- HOWARD A. STANLEY. 

